Medal "For the Defence of Leningrad"

Medal "For the Defence of Leningrad"
Medal "For the Defence of Leningrad" (obverse)
Awarded by  USSR
Type	Campaign medal
Eligibility	Citizens of the Soviet Union
Awarded for	Participation in the defence of Leningrad
Status	No longer awarded
Statistics
Established	December 22, 1942
Total awarded	1,470,000
Ribbon of the Medal "For the Defence of Leningrad"

The Medal "For the Defence of Leningrad" (Russian: Медаль «За оборону Ленинграда») was a World War II campaign medal of the Soviet Union established on December 22, 1942 by decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR to recognise the valour and hard work of the Soviet civilian and military defenders of Leningrad during the 872-day siege of the city by the German armed forces between September 8, 1941 and January 27, 1944. The medal's statute was later amended by Resolution of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet on March 8, 1945. and again one last time on July 18, 1980 by decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR № 2523-X.

The Medal "For the Defence of Leningrad" was awarded to all participants in the defence of Leningrad - soldiers of the Red Army, Navy and troops of the NKVD, and also to the persons from the civilian population who took part in the defence of Leningrad during its siege by German forces.

The Resolution of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of March 8, 1945 granted the petition of Yaroslavl regional organizations to award the medal "For the Defence of Leningrad" to the most distinguished participants in the construction of defensive structures in the Leningrad area by the civilian population of the Yaroslavl region.

Award of the medal was made on behalf of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR on the basis of documents attesting to actual participation in the defence of Leningrad issued by the unit commander, the chief of the military medical establishment or by a relevant provincial or municipal authority. Serving military personnel received the medal from their unit commander, retirees from military service received the medal from a regional, municipal or district military commissioner in the recipient's community, members of the civilian population, participants in the defence of Leningrad received their medal from regional or city Councils of People's Deputies. The medal came with by an award certificate.